New York Yankees

The Yankees acquired outfielder Fernando Martinez from the Astros on Tuesday in exchange for right-hander Charles Basford, though the club has not confirmed the deal.

The Yankees' first meeting with the Dodgers since 1981 was pushed back a day, and the two historic clubs will meet for a day-night doubleheader on Wednesday at Yankee Stadium after Tuesday's series opener was rained out.

Some player movement and notes, courtesy of Josh Norris: Double-A Trenton: LHP Francisco Rondon promoted to Triple-A Scranton. He’s walked way too many guys this year (6.34 BB/9 and 14.4 BB%), even after moving back to the bullpen. C Tyson Blaser was demoted to High-A Tampa. High-A Tampa: C Francisco Arcia has been promoted to Double-A Trenton. He and Blaser swapped spots, essentially. Have to think Arcia is just keeping the spot warm for C Gary Sanchez. LSU was eliminated from the College World Series today, meaning seventh rounder RHP Nick Rumbelow is now free to sign. He threw one scoreless innings in the event, walking one and striking out three. Triple-A Scranton (4-3 loss to Rochester) they started Single-A emergency call-up OF Cody Grice and two utility infielders in the outfield tonight, hence the Fernando Martinez pick-up C J.R. Murphy: 1-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 K — first Triple-A homer 1B Dan Johnson: 1-4, 1 R, 1 2B DH Randy Ruiz: 1-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI RHP Brett Marshall: 6 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 6 K, 1 WP, 7/3 GB/FB — 61 of 102 pitches were strikes (60%) … this start lowered his season ERA (6.94 ERA) and BB/9 (6.49), believe it or not LHP Francisco Rondon: 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 5/2 GB/FB — 31 of 51 pitches were strikes (61%) … he was up to 95 mph with the fastball Double-A Trenton (5-1 win over Akron) LF Ramon Flores: 1-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K — homered off rehabbing big leaguer Chris Perez … threw a runner out at the plate CF Slade Heathcott: 2-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 SB — doubled off Perez … seven-game hit streak, but this is the first of those seven games with multiple hits RF Tyler Austin: 2-5, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 2 K — 15 hits in his last 38 at-bats (.395) 3B Reegie Corona & C Francisco Arcia: both 1-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2 K — both homered off Perez … they really hit him hard RHP Tommy Kahnle: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 1/0 GB/FB — seven of 12 pitches were strikes (58%) High-A Tampa (6-3 loss to Dunedin in 11 innings) no CF Mason Williams after he exited last night’s game after running out a ground ball … not sure if he’s hurt or being benched for not hustling or something else entirely CF Ben Gamel: 3-6, 1 2B, 1 3B, 1 RBI, 3 K, 1 SB — a double and a triple, but no runs? geez guys 2B Rob Refsnyder: 1-3, 1 R, 1 2B, 2 BB, 1 K C Gary Sanchez & DH Angelo Gumbs: both 1-5, 1 K — Sanchez allowed a passed ball RHP Diego Moreno: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 1 HB, 2/0 GB/FB RHP Branden Pinder: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 2/1 GB/FB — still hasn’t allowed a run since being demoted three weeks ago RHP Charley Short: 3 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, 5/3 GB/FB — had allowed four runs in 26.1 innings coming into this game Low-A Charleston is off until Thursday for the All-Star break. The actually All-Star Game didn’t start until 9:45pm ET tonight because of a lengthy rain delay. The box score is right here, but I’m not sticking around to update the stats. C Peter O’Brien, RHP Alex Smith, and RHP Ben Paullus are the only Yankees farmhands at the game following the recent promotions. Short Season Staten Island was rained out. Not sure when they’ll make this one up, but there’s plenty of time. Season just started yesterday. Post from: River Ave. Blues A New York Yankees blogMurphy hits first Triple-A homer in SWB loss

New York Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira returned to the disabled list Tuesday, with a right wrist injury suffered against the Los Angeles Angels, according to WFAN. View full post on Yahoo! Sports – MLB – New York Yankees News

New York Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira returned to the disabled list Tuesday, with a right wrist injury suffered against the Los Angeles Angels, according to WFAN. View full post on Yahoo! Sports – MLB – New York Mets News

The signing never sat well with the Yankee ghosts.

By Vincent Z. Mercogliano vmercoglia@lohud.com NEW YORK – It’s been a wild season on the West Coast for Los Angeles Dodgers manager Don Mattingly, but the former Yankees legend has remained composed in the face of constant speculation about his job security. “I had a good training ground, I’ll put it that way,” Mattingly said before Tuesday’s series opener with the Yankees was postponed due to rain. “I think George (Steinbrenner) liked controversy. His thing was, good publicity or bad publicity, its still publicity. I kind of grew up, in a sense, with it. … For me, it prepares you to just weather it and not take it personal.” Mattingly’s calmness under pressure has helped him navigate his way through a difficult two and a half months with this underachieving Dodgers’ team. Los Angeles sits 10 games under .500 entering Wednesday, but the longtime Yankee first baseman’s manner has not wavered. Mattingly was known for his business-like approach during his 14 seasons in pinstripes, which convinced the late Steinbrenner to name him as team captain and endeared him to New York fans. Those fans will have to wait one more day to see him manage at Yankee Stadium for the first time, with the Dodgers now set to play a split doubleheader against the Yankees on Wednesday at 1 and 7 p.m. “Obviously, it’s good to come back,” Mattingly said. “You don’t quite understand the relationship, honestly. I came from a small town, loved playing, came here and just played. I pretty much tried to keep it as simple as that, and they seemed to appreciate that. It was nice for me, because I didn’t have to do anything except play.” Mattingly is considered to be one of the greatest Yankees of all-time, with a plaque in Monument Park to prove it. He finished his career with a .307 batting average, winning nine Gold Gloves and an American League MVP award in 1985. Mattingly’s only blemish was never winning a championship. He retired after the 1995 season; just one year before the Yankees began their run of four titles in five years. “I was a big fan of his,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. “He’s been such a big part of Yankee history, and the way he played the game. I’m anxious to hear who gets the louder cheer today – him or (Mariano Rivera), if he comes in the game. I think that’s probably the only one who can measure up to him tonight, and he deserves that.” Mattingly’s opportunity to continue to chase a championship as a Yankee came prior to the 2008 season after longtime manager Joe Torre was let go. He was one of the three finalists for the opening – along with Girardi and current bench coach Tony Pena – but he was passed over for the job. “Obviously, you compete and want that job, so there was a little disappointment,” Mattingly said. “I didn’t go through the interview process and all of that not to get it, but I felt like I was treated really well through that process. (General manager Brian Cashman) I thought was great. He was up front and honest with me about everything. To be very honest with you, it was a blessing for me.” Mattingly followed Torre to Los Angeles to serve as his bench coach, eventually taking over as manager in 2011. And while his star-studded team has been dealing with mounting losses and injuries, he continues to use the lessons learned while playing for Steinbrenner under the bright lights in New York. “It’s a learning experience,” Mattingly said. “I look at it like a lot of other things. I’m not the first manager that’s had to deal with it, and I’m not going to be the last manager who’s had to deal with it. … It can only stay at that level for so long, and then you either get fired, or you don’t.” Associated Press photo The post Mattingly returns to the Bronx amidst turmoil in LA appeared first on The LoHud Yankees Blog.

The New York Yankees have been looking for offensive help and some additional depth. This deal probably won’t help at the major league level, though it gives them a little extra outfield depth in AAA which they could use. The Yankees acquired one-time top prospect Fernando Martinez from the Houston Astros tonight, in exchange for minor-league pitcher Charles Basford. (more…)

According to the Houston Chronicle, the Yankees have traded for former top prospect Fernando Martinez. Once upon a time, a deal for Martinez would have been a near blockbuster, but these days it’s little more than minor league outfield depth for a team that badly needs it. The Yankees are sending short-season reliever Charles Basford to the Astros (he was a 37th-round pick last year). As my friend Donnie Collins points out on Twitter, tonight’s Scranton/Wilkes-Barre lineup had utility infielders — Addison Maruszak and Walter Ibarra — in the outfielder corners, plus Class-A fill-in Cody Grice in center. With Thomas Neal and Zoilo Almonte in the big leagues, and Melky Mesa, Brennan Boesch and Ronnier Mustelier on the disabled list, the Yankees need Triple-A outfielders if only to put players where they should be. Martinez was once a gem of the Mets system, but it’s been pretty bad when given chances in the big leagues. He’s been pretty bad in Triple-A this year, as well, but he at least has a history of some production at that level. The post Report: Yankees make minor trade for OF Martinez appeared first on The LoHud Yankees Blog.

Yesterday, Brian Cashman was asked about his current progress on the trade market, and today he landed an outfielder. Via Brian T. Smith, the Yankees have acquired Fernando Martinez in exchange for 2012 37th round pick Charles Basford. Martinez was likely headed to the waiver wire, where the Astros originally picked him up from the Mets. The former top prospect is still just 24 years old, but after 5 short seasons in the majors, Martinez has been unable to produce regularly. In just 310 plate appearances in the big leagues, Martinez has a .206/.269/.362 slash. Although he was ranked in Baseball America's top 30 prospect three times, and once at 77, Martinez hasn't had much success in the minors lately either. With the Mets, Martinez has put up OPS's of just .772 and .746 through 537 plate appearance in 2010 and 2011. Last season, Martinez went off to the hitter friendly PCL and looked much better with a .314/.367/.507 slash. He's since struggled in both the majors and minors of the Astros. The outfielder is still young at 24 years old, and left-handed bats in Yankee Stadium have been known to do well. Perhaps the Yankees still see some of the offensive prowess that scouts saw just a couple of years ago. If anyone can fix a swing, Kevin Long stands with the best of them. With that said, he's destined for Scranton, and it only cost the Yankees a low-A relief pitcher, so it's not like the biggest move.